Support the 'Carbon Monoxide - be Alarmed!' campaign

The 'Carbon Monoxide - Be Alarmed!' campaign is organised by the Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance (COCAA) whose members include victims’ charities, professional organisations and energy companies. As well as raising awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide and the precautions people should take, this campaign is seeking support for four changes which will make a major difference.

  1. In order to receive a gas safety certificate, landlords should have to provide tenants with a Carbon Monoxide alarm. This is a simple mechanism to ensure that many of the most vulnerable members of society are offered the protection of a Carbon Monoxide alarm. The existing legal requirement for a gas safety certificate only means that an appropriately qualified and registered installer checks the safety of gas appliances.
  2. Every new home should be fitted with a wired-in Carbon Monoxide alarm. To mirror the current requirement for a wired-in smoke alarm to be fitted in all new-build homes, Building Regulations should be amended to require an audible wired-in Carbon Monoxide alarm to be installed. This is a simple measure which will add no significant cost to homebuilders if the Carbon Monoxide alarm is installed at the same time as the smoke alarm.
  3. The Government should nominate a Minister to take the lead, across Whitehall, on issues relating to Carbon Monoxide. Responsibility for Carbon Monoxide related issues currently lies across several departments and Ministers. A single Minister to co-ordinate activity would ensure that policy relating to Carbon Monoxide, including housing, training for healthcare professionals and recording of statistics is co-ordinated.
  4. There should be more training and information to ensure that front-line healthcare professionals can recognise the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and record accurate data around incidents and deaths. Too often, the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning are not recognised and people are allowed to continue living in a dangerous environment. We call upon the professional organisations for healthcare professionals including GPs, pharmacists and paramedics to work with the Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance to agree an action plan to address this issue.
To view campaign details go to www.co-bealarmed.co.uk

For further information regarding COCAA go to www.becarbonmonoxideaware.com